Peter and Cornelius could not be drawn in stronger contrasts. One a devout Jew and leader of the Jerusalem church who had never broken the food laws; the other a military man, a cog in the occupation force of Rome.
Yet both receive visions from God and drawn together under one room by the Holy Spirit. As they talk, it becomes clear that neither Peter nor Cornelius is leading the conversation. God is.
It is our prejudices—our pre-judgments—that often keep us from recognizing how the Spirit is at work around us. As we go about drawing conclusions about people and experiences, we deeply stunt our ability to recognize a God who is at work in places and ways we often write off.